Summer At The Zoo

I went to the Denver Zoo yesterday afternoon to take a few photographs, hoping that the animals weren't hiding in the shade or hanging out inside due to the 92 degree temperatures. Some were, but many were actually out and about, including the monkey posing for a portrait in the photo on the left.

The baby mandrill was out and about, too, as seen in the photograph on the right. It is still young, but does not seem to be as lively as it was after it's mother finally stopped holding it's hand 24/7 and let it wander around on its own. No doubt the zoo psychologist had a long talk with the mandrill mother. That young mandrill is now getting down to more adult activities, like constantly searching for things to eat. 

Meanwhile, the large male orangutan was outside, too, enjoying the sun and heat, which I suspect is the type of weather their counterparts experience in Sumatra and Borneo. This orangutan is a gentle creature, and took over the care of it's baby when the mother unexpectedly died. Male orangutans do not do this in the wild. They prefer to hire nannys. 

 

I can tell from the expression on the ape in the photograph on the right that it really likes me, and was quite willing to have it's portrait taken with it's most winning expression. When I went into the ape house, this creature was having a fight with it's cellmate, and afterwards ran outside, with the other ape in hot pursuit. I followed them outside, and after a while they both went back into the ape house, and went to neutral corners, which is when I took the photograph. Thanks to the high cost of apartments here in Denver, a lot of roommates in popular hipster neighborhoods like River North (RiNo) behave the same way.